The Suez Crisis 1956

Depth study

Context

• Arab disunity

• Lebanon alienation

• Growth of nationalism and Baathism

• ‘Perpetual war’

• Cold War: US not wanted to alienate Arab states towards USSR

• US didn’t want WW3, Eisenhower focused on reelection.

• EG resources ruined from 1948

Causes

• Nasser nationalised the Suez in July 1956. This followed withdrawal of BR/US funding for the Aswan Dam and recognition of communist china (growing influence in N-A movement).

• 1954 treaty meant BR troops had been withdrawn from region.

• PM Eden determined to not let Nasser cut off oil/trade. BR/Fr saw Nasser as ‘Hitler on the Nile’.

• BR expected easy victory, 80% ships through the canal were BR. 2/3s of fuel supplies for W. Eu were passed through Canal.

• FR similar → Fighting bitter war against FLN (nationalist rebels trained and supplied by Nasser) in Algeria.

• ISR wanted to teach Nasser a lesson due to his encouragement of PAL border raids. Also wanted to reopen straits of Tiran.

Chronology

24th October → BR/FR foreign ministers secretly met BG in France, held many meeting.

29th Oct → ISR forces invaded EG. Within a week they had captured Gaza and the Sinai.

30th → BR/FR ordered ceasefire and withdrawal of ISR troops 10 miles from canal.

31st → BR/FR bombed EG airfields (destroying 95% of EG’s airforce.

5th Nov → Advanced along canal. EG sunk ships filled with concrete.

6th → UN declared a ceasefire and FR/BR withdrew. Un emergency force sent to canal to supervise.

Why did they lose?

UN → Arab states condemned action, halting supplies to the West. US condemned it, threatening to cut off financial aid which would ruin BR economy. (Marshall plans biggest recipient → $2.7 billion)

Operation had been too slow, allowing opinion to turn. No propaganda prep.

Suez blocked.

Impacts (Nasser)

• Nasser = hero of Arab world

• stood up to BR/FR

• gained control of Suez

• with US aid, canal was cleared and reopened in April 1957.

• Nasser could claim failure against ISR due to BR/FR support.

• Propaganda success

Impacts (ISR)

• speed of victory over EG proved the IDF was the strongest force in the ME

• Un troops buffer between ISR/EG

• Opening of straits of Tiran.

Impacts (BR/FR)

Losers of the Suez war.

• Eden resigned as PM 2 months later

• Failed to gain control of canal or orchestrate a regime change.

• Humiliated and clearly not a great power within ME anymore, colonial power dead.

Impact (Arab)

• Arab states now more anti-W than ever. Especially since they used ISR.

• Arabs more wiling to seek USSR aid. USSR now began to supply most of EG’s weapons and pay for Aswan Dam.

• Jordan threatened by Nasser

• Lebanon isolated.

• Syria, large levels of love for Nasser.

• Strengthened concepts of Arab Nationalism.